Decked out in a frizzy afro wig and suede jacket, a typically freewheeling Cher introduced son Chaz Bono at the 23rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards in L.A. last night, where Bono was picking up the Stephen F. Kolzak Award. “I don’t have anything prepared—I’m so nervous because my pronouns for my child jump all over the fucking place,” the legendary pop diva joked with the crowd before getting a little sentimental: “Chaz has the most courage of almost anyone I know. The other day I was having a big meltdown and Chaz said, ‘Are you going to come to the [GLAAD Media Awards],’ and I went ‘Chaz, you know, I’m not doing well right now’ and… he texted me and said ‘I turned into a very understanding, smart man and you can call on me.’ And it made me feel so good, like I could lean on someone. It touched my heart.”

In his accepting the award, given to an openly LGBT personality who has worked toward eliminating homophobia or transphobia, Bono thanked GLAAD for teaching him to see the media as “the greatest activist tool that we have at our disposal.”

He also credited the group for helping him weather a few media storms: “From when it first came out that I was transitioning, GLAAD was right there, out front in the media. And really everything that I’ve done since then, they have been a partner for me to be able to go to when Million Moms is coming out against me or Keith Ablow is telling people that me being on Dancing with the Stars is somehow going to be damaging to children. They have really been a partner for me all the way.”

Speaking of Straight But Not Narrow, Hutcherson said, “We wanted to create a place where straight people felt safe coming out and saying ‘It’s okay to be gay.’ And I didn’t know one, so we decided we were going to make one and we have. It’s gaining momentum and it means the world to me.”

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14 Comments

steve

Awwe, cute. I’m still annoyed that Chaz has more facial hair then I will probably will ever have lol

April 22, 2012 at 8:04pm

Plankton Menace

Well, now GLAAD’s transition is complete. It honors an “ex-gay normal heterosexual” and a straight man in its awards. Apparently, there were no actual gay people around to award with anything. Do we even know if the new president is a biological male or even gay? Of course, now even saying the word gay is verboten in this totally trans-focused organization.

Unless I’m totally jumping the gun and missing the connection, this just seems really cheap on Queerty’s part.

April 23, 2012 at 1:04am

shannon

NOW WHEN SOMEONE SAYS “FAG FAB”……YOU WILL FALL THE FUCK OUT SCREAMING AND CRYING! THIS IS WHY PEOPLE DO NOT LIKE NOR SUPPORT GAY WHITE MEN ANYMORE….

April 23, 2012 at 1:04am

Rick-O

It hit me right away – he sounds SO much like his dad.

April 23, 2012 at 1:04am

Mark

“Ghetto Fab”

Oh, we know what you mean and that you didn’t mean anything by it, but get ready for backlash that you do seem to relish heaping on others who you knew meant no disrespect, either.

April 23, 2012 at 6:04am

fujimaster

Chaz deserved it! He’s so brave and a nice person! Cher rocked at being her sassy, laid-back self! Love them!

April 23, 2012 at 6:04am

John

Chaz wins an award for being a freak? God, she’s been cashing in on her mental disorder for a while now. What about the REAL gay people that need recognition? What about the gay teachers? Doctors? Firefighters? She’s NOTHING except a fat rich girl that doesn’t know when to say no to seconds and thirds on her meal. She had every privilege that we’ll never know and she’s winning an award for being a circus freak? Come on GLAAD, you’re embarrassing.

April 23, 2012 at 7:04am

Mark

Thanks for your transphobic bigotry. Good to know that ignorance and hatred not only haunt heterosexual minds but gay ones like yours.

The irony that you attack Bono for mental disorder because her perceived self-identity and your being gay is astounding. How many people look at you with similar disgust and belief that you, as a gay man, are also mentally ill? A whole hell of a lot.

April 23, 2012 at 8:04am

JKB

@John: It’s not that serious…calm down. Plus, it is a great excuse to show a mother’s love for her child AND have a member of a community who is rarely appreciated given some props.

April 23, 2012 at 8:04am

Mark

Queerty,

Is there anyway to flag a headline for being bigoted and ignorant?

An afro is a type of hair/hairstyle. It has nothing to do with being from the “ghetto”! Afros are the natural hairstyles for the majority of black African-descended people! You’ll also find that some white also have similar kinky hair.

It’s a type of hair.

Bleh.

April 23, 2012 at 9:04am

Spike

As previously posted, give Chaz an award and Cher shows up to the black tie fund raiser, Cher showing up to anything tends to sell tickets, eps when gays are involved.